The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-08-04
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
AFTER SUMTER.
On the Upper Potomac In the Early Days OF thc
Mar


pieces of artillery. and began Smelling the
houses on the Maryland shore. Their main OBJ
iect was the destruction Of the dam, rs the
canal was nc that early day quite channel for
the transportation of -four, corn, oats. etc. for
use Of the troops around Washington, and its
loss would have been quite blow to the Union
cause. Some of us who had been in the Skin
mish over the ferryboat Mt McCoy's Ferry were
here present for duty. The rebels had the ad-
vantage of the high bluffs on the Virginia Shore
and were armed with long range rifles as well
rs their artillery. So we boys began to plan
how we could prevent them from doing what
they came TO do.
At last we decided 10 get.into the depression
caused by the building OF the lock at the end of
the dam on the Maryland shore. This lock was
different from any others ON the canal, the top
of the lock wall being 10 or IL feet lower than
the Rbutment wall of tue dam. So ia we went,
armed as well as we could arm ourselves know
Ing we would have to stay "a hours, as we were
SUBJECT TO WARM FIRE
from the rebels on the Virginia bluff the mo-
ment we showed up. We went In after dark,
made scaiIold on the side of the wall next TO
the dam, and placed head log in position
during the night, and by daylight were ready
for action.
AS soon as IL got light we began to use our
best riies-as some of them would carry over
the riyer-and the Johnnics opened on us with
cannon. We began 20 think we had "reckoDed
with our host" but The shot and shell went
over, and many OF the latter fell into the lock
just in our rear, where there was seven feet Of
water, and none Of us were hurt. But we were
ali just little more than scared, as il was the
first time many Of the boys had ever heard
cannon and then 10 have them shot right at a
fellow" we'll, you know how il was your
self" But after the scare was over the boys
began 70 sight their old sguirrel-rifles aud Har-
per's Ferry muskets 10 Kill, and our serenaders
had TO retire TO q safe distance
One day Bob Null, one of the boys, charged
an old stove-pipe and put a lot of may on the
powder and pretended he was sighting at
squad OF robs up the river When the old thing
went OF you ought TO have seen those +. +. VS.
"Rit mp and git" think the column was OF
will as they double-quicked out Of sight
We kept this mp for 10 or II days, some Of
Che boys on duty 81 the time. and Others re-
lieved every night. Our rations were furnished
by the good, loyal citizens, and they were of the
best Few soldiers ever
PARED As WELL AS WE DID
during the siege OF Dam No s. We held the
Organized forces of the Confectionery OF bay all
this time, and they had not been able TO do any
serious damage TO the dam, as there was no
place they could plant battery that we could
not pick them Of, and they soon ceased 10 try
&C.
One day while fhe siege was still on the
writer was In Clear Spring. Nd. when along
came reporter named Wray OF Ray, a CORE
epondent Of q Philadelphia paper, think.
Right here want 10 say to you privately that
AZ you strike him tell him want 10 see him to
settle an old gTudge Of 26 years standing, and
when you read my reasons think you viii
say am justified.
He was quite a digniled cuss; represented
himself as q bigger man than Gen. Patter-
son, upon whose staff be said he was. he said
he had been ordered by Gen. Pattcrson-whose
forces then were near Greencastle, Pa-to
come 10 -Four Lock on the Chesapeake e. Ohio
Canal, where there was q steam-tng lying
losded with l20 tons Of coal, have the coal IN
loaded and the tug taken down the canal
two and a bali miles. 10 slack water, above the
dam, where onr boys were posted and In case
we could ret u down by or 10 that night be
Patterson would send a party there 10 cross
and
MAKE A RECONNAISSANCE
in Dixie. All Of this sounded very nice to the
BOYS, and several OF MS drove down MT once and
began 70 beave coal. II was warm day, bat we
worked hard and before night had over 100
tons OF the boat, when we called a halt. I
want II here distinctly understood chat was
ready 20 halt sometime before, as il was
awiully hard on my back.
We thought We would steam Up the tug but
having no engineer, and not liking TO ran the
risk Of getting blown up or blowing some one
else up we abandoned this idea. Then we
tried 70 Get borse o. a mule, but army mules
were not plenty OF the Potomac in those DAYS.
and the parties who had them EwOre they were
NOT going 10 have their mules shot by the
rebels going down the canal So finally We de-
cided on n tandem team Of Il We men, with loval
big hearted and big bodied johnny Roach from
Erin az the wheel and
MYSELF IN TIKI LEAD.
II Is In part about this same tandem team that
makes me have a warm fellow-feeling for Mr.
STAFF Officer Ray, and could we have had him
Of the end Of that drive. some one would have
had job writing bis obituary.
At some places there were no trees between
fho canal and the river. and then we would
have 70 bug the edge Of the water IN the canal.
81 the rebels were all along on the virginia
shore, and good gun would carry a bullet
over anywhere. We tnggcd and pulled. some
times Oh our knees and At Others on all-f0urs
and al The way with 9 curve In our spines
which fear some Of Us have never got out vet.
We al fwore we never wanted 70 play tow
horse on tugboat any more, and for one
never have since.
Finally. about midnight, we reached the end
Of the Lowell, whore there were two locks 10 LEI
az out iDio slack water or the Potomac We
were just ready 60 run the boat into the upper
lock when we discoveries two Of the worst
rebels in the vicinity floating around in a
skih We asked them what they were doing
there, and before they could make any reply
found
THY WE'RE VERY DRUNK
From what we could get out Of them we learned
that a report had gol-Uut that we were an eur-
rounded. They said one party Of rehels had
crossed above as and snOthcs below and were
cl0sing Ia upon u.s.
We made up our minds we would not nav
any attention 70 the report we had lust heard
but 60 on with the boat. had just drawn the
hne taut 70 start the boat out o. the lock. when
heard The rattle Of d wagon on the bln u over
head, which was 50 unusual that went back
and reported u. Then VIC called council OF
war. We were AT Of ono rank-Aid -de-Camp
q an Eighth Corporal. Our council resulted In
q heavy scout being sent out. We left the
hteefHman on the boat, and The rest-six or
seven 10 numbcr--went out 20 rocOnDoiter Nv
route was in tho main road and up q very stoep
bill on the TOP Of which the road turned 10 The
Fgh aud over the bluff 10 the dam half
mile below.
bad just lcft Che main road and entered tho
woods when click, click" greeted nv carr
and my hat and hair raised but 10 fash on re-.
port Of arms followed. had a trusty revolver
cooked but would not use II, as I could not
believe we were surrounded, and / did not wish
% fire on one Of cur boys, 90 ] said,
"DoET sHooTlp
and my answer IN a second was from one Of our
besi bosg and was, Ny God, jim. II Il YOU = -
nc VIA from the squad az the dam, and they
also had beard We were al surrounded, aud
mac no knowledge Of u6 who came on the boat,
SO sne VII, ~, ~ lsec AZ our presence 80 near